Yet another India-Pakistan game that disappoints neutral fans as it doesn't do justice to all the hype which surrounded before the start of the match. Blame Shubman Gill for that, whose ton took the game away from Pakistan. His scores in this tournament: 63, 90*, 86, 102* (today). Hey Australia, look out for him. He almost looks unstoppable. Both semifinals turned out be one-sided affairs. Let's hope the ultimate clash doesn't go that way. We'll be up early for that encounter. Do join us. Until then, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman,Rishi Roy (@_rrroy_) and Siva.

Prithvi Shaw, India captain: It was a good all round performance from everyone. We are doing a great job. The plan was simple. Just look for the loose balls and convert into boundaries. They (fast bowlers) are doing a great job in the tournament, hope they do a good job in the finals as well. First class - really a good experience playing with the seniors. I'm feeling proud and thanks to the crowd as well. It'll be a good challenge (against Australia) for us. Let's see what happens.

Hasan Khan, Pakistan Captain: The game was pretty much in balance. Unfortunately, our batters didn't perform. Nothing worked. We missed a couple of chances. Things didn't really go our way. The batsmen didn't perform up to the mark. The bowlers have been performing really well for us.

Shubman Gill, Player of the Match: This innings I rate it pretty high. It was a pressure innings - all that nerves as it was against Pakistan. (When asked about his preparation before the match) I just had a good dinner and slept. The pitch wasn't that good to bat on against the spinners. I thought 250-260 would be a good score and our pacers will defend that. The credit goes to my father and brother. I would like to play all three formats, because modern cricket is all about adapting. Looking forward to it (the final against Australia).

The Indian bowlers then came out all guns blazing, with Mavi bowling 3 consecutive maidens, and Ishan Porel reaped the rewards with the first four Pakistani wickets. The Pakistan batting buckled under pressure, and they never really turned up, with the run-rate barely crossing three over the course of the innings. The Indian spinners closed things out in the end and Ishan Porel ended with an impressive four-wicket haul to knock Pakistan out of the competition with one of the more one-sided performances of the competition. India have shown their mettle under pressure and Australia must be wary of the Indian juggernaut going into the final...

4:45PM local time: A clinical performance from India - and what was expected to be a a nail-biter, ended up being a drawl of a contest as Pakistan crashed to an abject defeat. Pakistan, whose batting had been shielded by their bowling attack throughout the tournament, were finally found wanting today as they collapsed to a heavy 203-run defeat at the Hagley Oval. India started off well, but after the run-out of Prithvi Shaw, had a bit of a collapse to 166/5, thanks to a flurry of wickets from Arshad Iqbal. However, the vice-captain Shubman Gill, who hasn't failed to go past fifty in this tournament, made a sublime hundred to make sure India posted a competitive total.

29.3

Abhishek Sharma to Arshad Iqbal, out Caught by Ishan Porel!! India beat Pakistan by 203 runs and will face Australia for the title. India enter the final of the Under-19 World Cup for the sixth time. A tossed up delivery from round the wicket on the stumps, Iqbal gets down to sweep and miscues it to deep square leg. A simple catch for Porel who gobbles it up and has his arms aloft. Arshad Iqbal c Ishan Porel b Abhishek Sharma 1(4)

Abhishek Sharma to Arshad Iqbal, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

29.2

Abhishek Sharma to Arshad Iqbal, no run, short of length, Iqbal goes back and across to slap it straight to the man at short cover

29.1

Abhishek Sharma to Arshad Iqbal, no run, darted in on middle, Iqbal stands tall and blocks

Abhishek Sharma, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

28.6

Anukul Roy to Arshad Iqbal, 1 run, a defensive push down to long-off

Arshad Iqbal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

28.5

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, out Stumped!! Gone. Is he? A stumping appeal and the square leg umpire goes upstairs. Fair delivery. Foot is in the air and the bails have been dislodged. OUT! A floater outside off that drifts away and Saad can't make contact. He loses his balance and tries to drag his back leg back in. Unfortunately, he couldn't ground the left leg. Quick glovework from Harvik Desai. Saad Khan st Harvik Desai b Anukul Roy 15(33) [4s-1]

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!

Gone. Is he? A stumping appeal and the square leg umpire goes upstairs. Fair delivery. Foot is in the air and the bails have been dislodged. OUT!

28.4

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, no run, very full, jammed off the outside part of the bat to backward point

28.3

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, no run, nice stride forward to kill it into the pitch

28.2

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, FOUR, shot! Saad Khan dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the delivery and smashes it over mid-off

28.1

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, no run, a step down the track, followed by a push to mid-off

Anukul Roy to Muhammad Musa, FOUR, Musa gets off the mark with a boundary. Went aerial and made decent contact. Just lofted this flighted delivery over mid-on and the ball goes over the boundary rope despite a committed effort from the mid-off fielder

26.3

Anukul Roy to Muhammad Musa, no run, another forward defence

26.2

Anukul Roy to Muhammad Musa, no run, loads of flight, but the length is too full. Smothered

26.1

Anukul Roy to Saad Khan, 1 run, too full, whipped to deep mid-wicket

Anukul Sudhakar Roy, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

25.6

Shiva Singh to Muhammad Musa, no run, dropped! A tough one at first slip for Shaw. Musa gets a thick outside edge trying to hoick across the line. The ball goes at a quick pace over the head of Shaw, who could only get a finger on it

25.5

Shiva Singh to Muhammad Musa, no run, darted in on middle and leg, stonewalled

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, 1 run, flighted delivery outside off, Saad Khan comes on the front foot and drives it down the ground. Parag allows it to go through and Saad collects an easy single

24.4

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, stabs this short of length delivery, but once again, can't get it past the short cover fielder

24.3

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, cross-batted to the right of short cover

24.2

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, dabbed to the left of the lone slipper

24.1

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, pushed through on off, blocked

Muhammad Musa, right handed bat, comes to the crease

23.6

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, out Caught&Bowled!! Was that a carrom ball from Shiva Singh? No, a leg-break from Shiva and Afridi didn't bother what kind of delivery it was. He wanted to slog it away over mid-wicket. An ugly hoick and the ball lobs up off the top part of the bat. The bowler calls for it, settles under it and pouches it with both hands. 48/8!Shaheen Afridi c and b Shiva Singh 0(11)

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, THAT'S OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!

23.5

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, no run, leans across and pushes it to cover

23.4

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, 1 run, shortish ball, whipped to mid-wicket

23.3

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, no run, slower through the air and gets it turn in sharply. Saad Khan misses the cut

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, no run, quicker and flatter outside off, Saad Khan walks across to tap it to backward point

22.6

Riyan Parag to Shaheen Afridi, no run, shorter and wider, Afridi waits for the ball and chops it to point

22.5

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, 1 run, closes the bat-face to works it to mid-wicket

22.4

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, pokes this away-turner into the off-side

22.3

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, a giant stride forward to block this stump-to-stump line ball into the 22-yard strip

22.2

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, short of length offie, Saad Khan pats it to cover off the back foot

22.1

Riyan Parag to Saad Khan, no run, jogs down the track and blocks

21.6

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, no run, nudged to short fine leg

21.5

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Afridi turns a shortish ball to short fine leg and Saad Khan wants a run. He is sent back and loses his balance while trying to turn back and make his ground. In the end, crawls his way back into the crease

21.4

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, no run, nurdled with the turn to mid-wicket

21.3

Shiva Singh to Shaheen Afridi, no run, seam-up short ball outside off, Shaheen Afridi fences it to backward point

Riyan Parag to Shaheen Afridi, no run. Another wicket? Shaw isn't certain if he's caught it cleanly. The umpires decide top go up and the soft signal off-side OUT. Fair delivery. One bounce and into the hands of the Indian captain. NOT OUT flashed on the giant screen. What was that from Shaheen Afridi. He wanted to play the sweep shot off the very first ball and the ball goes towards the first slip fielder off the toe end. On the half-volley to Shaw

Shaheen Afridi, left handed bat, comes to the crease

20.2

Riyan Parag to Hasan Khan, out Caught by Shubman Gill!! Shubman Gill is having a ball today. A hundred and a couple of catches now. A brilliant catch from the 18-year-old. Pakistan are falling apart here. Another batsman perishes trying to play the big shot. Hasan Khan steps out of his crease and decides to employ the lofted off-drive against this offie. Gets it off the lower portion of the bat, and for a moment he would have though that he had got enough wood on it. But, there's Gill to spoil his party. Shubman, at mid-off, turns around, runs back and takes a superb catch with both his arms stretched. Hasan Khan c Shubman Gill b Riyan Parag 1(5)

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, 1 run, jogs down the track and dinks a flighted delivery to long-on

19.2

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, no run, turning in from a short of length, Saad Khan goes back and turns it towards mid-wicket

19.1

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, no run, comes half-forward and pushes it back to the bowler

18.6

Riyan Parag to Hasan Khan, no run, a defensive push into the off-side

18.5

Riyan Parag to Hasan Khan, no run, defends this in-turner on the off-side and looks for a non-existent single. A loud no from his partner

Hasan Khan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

18.4

Riyan Parag to Rohail Nazir, out Caught by Shubman Gill!! Riyan Parag strikes in his opening over. This was on the cards. Nazir tries to slog his way out of trouble and gets out. Comes down the track to this off-break and decides to go downtown. He is robbed of the timing as he got it off the toe-end of the bat. Gill, at mid-off, takes a couple of steps backwards and cups it with ease. Pakistan - six down now! Rohail Nazir c Shubman Gill b Riyan Parag 18(39)

Riyan Parag to Rohail Nazir, 2 runs, that was a superb effort from Porel. He covered a lot of distance and dove forward. Just about carried, but couldn't hold onto it. Flighted delivery outside off, Nazir stays leg-side of the ball and swung his bat hard. The ball lobbed off the outside edge over covers. A chance, though a tough one, goes down

Riyan Parag, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

Spin from both ends now.

17.6

Shiva Singh to Saad Khan, no run, flighted delivery outside off, Saad Khan smothers it adjacent to the pitch on the off-side

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, out Caught by K Nagarkoti!! Another one bites the dust. Five down! These two were going newhere with the scoring rate and Taha tried to break the shackles. In the process, perishes. It was floated around off and Taha backed away to carves it through the off-side. All he manages is an outside edge that balloons up straight into the bucket hands of Nagarkoti at backward point. Mohammad Taha c K Nagarkoti b Shiva Singh 4(23)

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

17.3

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, no run, tossed up on the stumps, Taha dances down the track and drives it to mid-off

17.2

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, once again the length is on the shorter side, Nazir goes back in his crease and works it to square leg

17.1

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, no run, darted in on leg, Nazir backs away and inside-edges it onto his pad. Rolls to the left of the bowler

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, pulls the length back and bowls it on the pads, tucked towards square leg

15.1

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, no run, comes forward and drives loopy ball to short cover

15:50 Local Time, 08:20 IST:Drinks are on the field now. Time for the players to rehydrate themselves.

14.6

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, no run, good length ball angling into the corridor of uncertainty, and Taha comes forward and dead-bats it compactly

14.5

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, no run, short ball across the left-hander, Mohammad Taha sits down on his knee and sways out of the way

14.4

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, short delivery into the body but instead of rising it skids into his gut, so Rohail Nazir manages to get low and pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single

14.3

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, back of a length delivery on off, Rohail Nazir gets back in his crease and defends it off the back foot right under his eyes

14.2

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, 1 run, full delivery on leg and middle, whipped away in front of square leg for a single

14.1

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, no run, short delivery across the left-hander and straightening a tad, Mohammad Taha drops the wrists and sways out of the way

13.6

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, 1 run, full and flighted on off, cabt steps forwards and walks at it to punch it to long on on the walk for a single

13.5

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, no run, good length delivery just outside off, Mohammad Taha comes forward and defends as the ball refuses to turn and holds its line

13.4

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, skiddy delivery on off, punched off the back foot to cover

13.3

Shiva Singh to Rohail Nazir, no run, full delivery on middle from round the wicket now, defended off the front foot

13.2

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, 1 run, a tad short just outside off, Mohammad Taha rocks back and carves it to point

13.1

Shiva Singh to Mohammad Taha, no run, tossed up and turns in from outside off, clipped away towards square leg. Stifled appeal but there was bat on that

Shiva Singh, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

12.6

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, fraction short just outside off, seaming in sharply and beating the outside edge by some distance. In fact, it actually took off and got really big on the batsman who was just trying a tame backfoot defensive. Unplayable stuff from Nagarkoti. And it sails through to the keeper who collects it nears his chest. These Indian teenagers are breathing fire!

12.5

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, short delivery that gets too big on him, also outside off, so the attempted hook made no sense. He ended up getting through with the shot too early and it was never there for the shot

12.4

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, 1 run, misses the yorker by an inch and it ends up being a low full toss, deflected away to backward square leg for a single

12.3

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, no run, good length, actually a fraction fuller than that headed for off, Mohammad Taha defends it solidly off a half-forward stance

12.2

K Nagarkoti to Mohammad Taha, no run, short ball across the left-hander, Mohammad Taha drops his wrists and sways out of the way

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, full-ish delivery on middle, clipped away to the man at square leg inside the circle

11.5

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, back of a length delivery just outside off, Rohail Nazir gets on the back foot and tries to punch it towards cover, but plays down the wrong line and gets a thick inside edge towards the on-side

11.4

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, good length ball on middle, Rohail Nazir walks across towards off and strides down the wicket to pushes it back to the bowler

11.3

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, good length delivery on the pads, Rohail Nazir shuffles across and deflects it to the man at square leg

11.2

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, back of a length delivery on middle, Rohail Nazir defends off the back foot

Mohammad Taha, left handed bat, comes to the crease

11.1

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, out Caught by Shivam Mavi!! Oh a terrible shot under pressure by Ammad Alam! Dropped short just outside off, but Ammad Alam had already come down the wicket and decided to drive through the line. Headless shot, that, and he ends up slicing that as it lobs up in the air. Mavi settles under a sitter. 4 wickets for Porel now, and he has the catcher to thank for tight over at the other end. Ammad Alam c Shivam Mavi b Ishan Porel 4(15) [4s-1]

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

10.6

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, good length delivery just outside off, Rohail Nazir tries to reach out for it and drive through cover, but gets a thick outside edge that dies down on it's way to Prithvi Shaw stationed between backward point and gully - kind of a short square-ish third man

10.5

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, fractionally short outside off, Rohail Nazir tries to pull and swivels with the shot, gets it off the splice of the bat into the ground and it rolls away in front of point

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, short delivery fractionally wide outside off, Rohail Nazir sways out of the way

10.2

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, good length but very wide outside off, allowing him room to free his arms. He goes for the full blooded drive away from his body and gets beaten

10.1

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, no run, just a fraction short just outside off, Rohail Nazir taps a pull to short mid-wicket

9.6

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, full delivery going in towards leg with the angle, Ammad Alam misses the glance across the line with his head falling over towards off, they go up in an appeal, but it looks like there was an inside edge on it and it was missing leg-stump anyway

9.5

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, FOUR, Oh dear! It was short and fractionally wide, Ammad Alam threw the kitchen sink at that cut, and it flew over the slips to the long-stop fence for four. Thick top-edge and it beats the desperate dive from the fielder at the boundary

9.4

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, back of a length ball on the hips, tucked off the toes towards backward square leg

9.3

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, another fuller length ball on middle, pushed back to the bowler's right from the crease

9.2

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, fullish delivery on middle and off, Ammad Alam stays in the crease and pushes it back to the bowler with his weight on the back foot

9.1

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, full delivery on the pads on middle, Rohail Nazir clips it to short mid-wicket and they scramble a single

8.6

K Nagarkoti to Ammad Alam, no run, just a fraction short and a fraction wide outside off, the cut was on and he tapped it on the head and got it to the man at point inside the circle

8.5

K Nagarkoti to Ammad Alam, no run, short and fractionally wide outside off, Ammad Alam slashes at it and misses

8.4

K Nagarkoti to Ammad Alam, no run, half-volley on middle, Ammad Alam check-drives it to mid-on

8.3

K Nagarkoti to Ammad Alam, no run, just a fraction short in the channel outside off, Ammad Alam gets on his toes and pushes that into the off-side

8.2

K Nagarkoti to Ammad Alam, no run, back of a length delivery just outside off, Ammad Alam steers that to point off the back foot

8.1

K Nagarkoti to Rohail Nazir, 3 runs, short and wide outside off, Rohail Nazir cracks a cut to the deep backward point fence where Porel does some good work to limit the runs to 3

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, right-arm fast, comes into the attack

7.6

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, back of a length delivery angling into middle and leg, defended from the crease into the on-side

7.5

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, good length delivery outside off, fractionally wide, Ammad Alam doesn't move his feet and blocks that back to the bowler's left

7.4

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, back of a length delivery just outside off, Ammad Alam hops back onto the back foot and pushes that to cover point

7.3

Ishan Porel to Ammad Alam, no run, back of a length delivery on off and middle, defended off the back foot to the bowler

Ammad Alam, right handed bat, comes to the crease

7.2

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, out Caught by Prithvi Shaw!! Another one at that position between backward point and gully! Short and fractionally wide outside off, Ali Zaryab carves that away off the outside edge of the bat and straight to Prithvi Shaw who shows excellent reflexes to pluck that out of thin air. India are conjuring these wickets, making early incisions into the top-order. This is a clinical Indian team who like to close out matches, and Pakistan will have to do well to make a comeback here. Ali Zaryab c Prithvi Shaw b Ishan Porel 1(9)

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

7.1

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, no run, full and wide outside off, Ali Zaryab throws his bat at it after getting on his back knee and gets it straight to the man at point

6.6

Shivam Mavi to Ali Zaryab, 1 run, short delivery from over the wicket to the left-hander seaming into the ribcage at 142kmpg, Ali Zaryab is quick to hop and fend it away to short fine leg for a single

6.5

Shivam Mavi to Ali Zaryab, no run, good length ball on middle and leg, Ali Zaryab closes the face of the bat and squeezes that to mid-on off the back foot

6.5

Shivam Mavi to Ali Zaryab, wide, good length but very wide across the left-hander, Ali Zaryab tries to reach out and has a waft at it, but misses by a long way. Huge wide

6.4

Shivam Mavi to Ali Zaryab, no run, back of a length delivery skidding onto Ali Zaryab who defends it back to Mavi off the back foot

6.3

Shivam Mavi to Ali Zaryab, no run, full-ish delivery just outside off, Ali Zaryab tries to play a full-blooded off-drive but gets it off the inside half to mid-off as the bat face closes upon impact

6.2

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, short ball at 143kmph, Rohail Nazir is late on the pull as it gets it off the splice to mid-wicket and they scramble through for the single. It was in the air for a while but landed in no-man's land

6.1

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, 2 runs, in-swinger on a length outside off, Rohail Nazir comes forward and leans into a punchy drive to deep extra cover, for a couple

6.1

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, wide, first run conceded by Mavi, but still not off the bat. A short ball angling down leg side and Rohail Nazir misses with the twist-pull and it goes through to the keeper

5.6

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, no run, back of a length delivery angling away from off, Ali Zaryab punches it off the back foot towards cover point

5.5

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, no run, back of a length delivery on the pads, tucked off the back foot towards wide mid-on

5.4

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, no run, back of a length delivery on middle jagging away towards off, Ali Zaryab defends it late off the back foot

5.4

Ishan Porel to Ali Zaryab, wide, short delivery, very short, Ali Zaryab ducks and it sails over his head. Didn't even need to duck, and rightly adjudged wide

Ali Zaryab, left handed bat, comes to the crease

5.3

Ishan Porel to Imran Shah, out Caught by Prithvi Shaw!! Just a fraction short and a bit of width outside off, Imran Shah tries to hop and get this cut away to the backward point fence but gets it to the left of the Indian skipper instead, who, at that unorthodox position, holds on to an exemplary catch diving to his left. Porel has taken two wickets, and he has bowled extremely well, but make no mistake, the pressure built by Mavi's maidens from the other end have played a major role too. Imran Shah c Prithvi Shaw b Ishan Porel 2(14)

Ishan Porel to Imran Shah, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

5.2

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, back of a length delivery on middle and off, Rohail Nazir shuffles across and clips it away to backward square leg for a single

5.1

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, no run, back of a length delivery in the channel outside off, Rohail Nazir comes across and gets beaten on the defence but it seams in sharply, huge appeal for LBW! However, it struck him quite high, and the umpire shakes his head

4.6

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, leg byes, 1 run, back of a length delivery on the pads, Rohail Nazir tries another glance but gets it off the pad to short fine leg for a leg-bye. Third successive maiden for Mavi. Unreal stuff!

4.5

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, no run, good length ball on middle and off straightening slightly, Rohail Nazir defends it late from the crease after a back-and-across trigger movement

4.4

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, no run, short delivery just outside off, Rohail Nazir thinks about playing at it but just withdraws from it and gets out of the way towards the on-side

4.3

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, no run, just a fraction short outside off with little width, Rohail Nazir punches it off the back foot to cover

4.2

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, no run, short and wide, 145kmph! Rohail Nazir tries to throw his arms at that with a cut but misses as it seams in sharply and since the seam position is maintained after the bounce, it swings in towards the keeper. The batsman looks baffled

4.1

Shivam Mavi to Rohail Nazir, no run, back of a length delivery outside off and seaming in slightly, Rohail Nazir is early into the prod off the back foot and gets an inside edge onto his pad

3.6

Ishan Porel to Rohail Nazir, 1 run, back of a length delivery on the pads, Muhammad Zaid walks across the stumps and tucks it to wide mid-on as they scramble through for a single

Rohail Nazir, right handed bat, comes to the crease

3.5

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, out Caught by Shivam Mavi!! Excellent catch at the deep backward square leg boundary by Mavi! Had good awareness and grabbed it, finally balanced himself without stepping on the boundary. Coming to the ball - it was a full delivery on middle and Muhammad Zaid shuffles across to swat away a pick-up shot over the on-side. The shot was on, but he managed to find Mavi in the deep who makes no mistake in taking that inside the rope. A foot either side of him and it was six, but he manages to find the man. India draw first blood. Muhammad Zaid c Shivam Mavi b Ishan Porel 7(10) [4s-1]

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

3.4

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, pucnhed off the back foot to cover

3.3

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, 2 runs, back of a length delivery just outside off, Muhammad Zaid has a rush of blood and rushes down the wicket and tries to loft it over the long-on fence through the line, gets it in the air to wide long on off the inside half and it just about clears the fielders running back

3.2

Ishan Porel to Imran Shah, 1 run, back of a length ball on middle and leg, defended off the back foot towards mid-on

3.1

Ishan Porel to Imran Shah, no run, a fraction short anglign away from off, very little width, and steered away straight to backward point with a vertical bat

2.6

Shivam Mavi to Muhammad Zaid, no run, another delivery just a fraction short outside off, guided straight to backward point, and that's a second maiden on the trot for Mavi

2.5

Shivam Mavi to Muhammad Zaid, no run, a fraction short just outside off, Muhammad Zaid steers it to Shaw at an odd position between backward point and gully

2.4

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, leg byes, 1 run, back of a length ball on the pads, Imran Shah misses the glance and it trickles off the pads towards backward square leg for a leg-bye

2.3

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, length delivery taking off and angling away from the left-hander, a hint of seam movement, and Imran Shah is beaten whilst trying a whip-drive towards cover that turns into a waft

2.2

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, 143kmph, back of a length delivery on leg and middle angling away towards off, Imran Shah dead-bats off the back foot

2.1

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, good length delivery angling away from off-stump, in the corridor, and defended off the front foot by Shah

1.6

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, FOUR, a little too short and into the body, and with that gentle pace thanks to his ankle injury, the batsman had enough time to get on the back foot and clout the pull to the deep backward square leg fence for four

1.5

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, no run, good length delivery in the channel outside off , not much lateral movement, Muhammad Zaid allows it to come on to the bat from the crease and defends late

1.4

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, no run, good length delivery just outside off, pushed to cover

1.3

Ishan Porel to Imran Shah, 1 run, short delivery into the body, Imran Shah is late on the hook and lobs it just over the circle and it lands in no-man's land as they manage a single

1.2

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, 1 run, ooooh! Back of a length delivery outside off, jagging back in, Muhammad Zaid is cramped for room as he goes for the cut and gets an inside edge past the leg-stump away towards the fine leg fence for a single

1.1

Ishan Porel to Muhammad Zaid, no run, full delivery on middle, clipped to mid-on from the crease

Ishan Porel, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

0.6

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, short of a length delivery anglign away from off stump, Imran Shah thinks about flirting with it first up, but then decides against it and withdraw the shot. Dramatic maiden over

0.5

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, back of a length delivery on a probing length again and he finally makes contact with the back foot defence

0.4

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, just a fraction short on off, seaming away very sharply and absolute jaffa as he is beaten on the back foot defence again as it gets really big on him

0.3

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, 143kmph and beaten! Back of a length delivery on middle and off, jagging away sharply off the seam, and Imran Shah is caught on the backfoot defensive; gets beaten

0.2

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, good length delivery on middle, seming away from the left-hander, Imran Shah defends it tentatively from the crease into the off-side. Doesn't look very certain about going forward

0.1

Shivam Mavi to Imran Shah, no run, 140kmph to start with, back of a length delivery angling away from the left-hander, Imran Shah defends off the back foot into the off-side

Imran Shah and Muhammad Zaid are at the crease. Imran Shah is on strike. Shivam Mavi will open the attack

Welcome back! It's Rishi here, taking over from two heavy-eyed co-commentators trying to stay awake through the big occasion, and I'll be taking you through the initial part of the run-chase. The Pakistan openers, Mohammad Zaid and Imran Shah, are out at the center, and Shivam Mavi will take the new ball for the Indians. Here we go...

14:10 local time: So after 300 looked a reality to 250 looking tough, India have found the mean, almost quite literally. And they have Shubhman Gill to thank. Also Pakistan's fielding. First to the century - well it was a masterclass. All through his stay, Gill looked a class over the rest. With wickets falling at the other end around him, he toyed around with the bowling perfectly, taking singles to keep strike and spanking boundaries almost at will. The fact that Pakistan dropped sitters, missed a dozen of run-outs and bowled criminal no balls played into his quest. Eventually, it was a century around all the drama. So, with 273 to chase and an unfavourable history to keep out, Pakistan need someone to turn into a Gill, anchor. The Indian bowling is no mug either. Should be a fascinating second half. Back in a bit..

49.6

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, and this time the same guy at long-off pulls off a stunner. Not that it makes much of a difference with it being off a free-hit. But still. Gill gets under the length and smokes it straight down, is caught off a backward dive. Just the single in the middle of all this

49.6

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no ball, 2 runs, think of all the drama you can, and raise it to the power of itself. But more importantly, it allows Gill the century. Started with a squirt up in the air to long-off, and the fielder drops a sitter. Forget that, it's a no ball too. Massive. Super shoddy. Never mind the celebrations, it's pumped with energy and expletives

49.5

Muhammad Musa to Ishan Porel, 1 run, squeezes to point. And yet again..the throw is somewhere else. Oh dear. I've lost count on the number of run-outs misses

Ishan Porel, right handed bat, comes to the crease

49.4

Muhammad Musa to Shiva Singh, out Lbw!! Dead plumb. Nails the yorker in the blockhole and Singh doesn't make life simple for himself with his shuffle that parks him bang in front of middle. Plays all around and the ball smashes his front toe. Flush. Shiva Singh lbw b Muhammad Musa 1(2)

Muhammad Musa to Shiva Singh, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!

49.3

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, leading-edges it up. And it balloons into the covers. Three men converge, all look at each other, and that's all

49.2

Muhammad Musa to Shiva Singh, 1 run, oh the fielding leaking it here. Squeezed to point and in the quest to give Gill the strike again runs and gies up too. The fielder had all the time to stay up, take aim but the throw is loopy and over the non-striker's stumps

Shiva Singh, right handed bat, comes to the crease

49.1

Muhammad Musa to Shivam Mavi, out Caught by Imran Shah!! Nice and full in the blockhole. Mavi gets deep in the crease in trying to get under it. Can't quite. Tries employing a bottom-handed whip, airy but picks out mid-wicket to perfection. Shivam Mavi c Imran Shah b Muhammad Musa 10(6) [4s-2]

Muhammad Musa to Shivam Mavi, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

48.6

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, waist high full toss, Gill can't get enough to take it into the boundary. But there's enough to get back for the second, taking on long-off. He gets to 98

48.5

Shaheen Afridi to Shivam Mavi, 1 run, soft push, cover region

48.4

Shaheen Afridi to Shivam Mavi, FOUR, follows it with an easy drifter down leg. Mavi swivels, pulls and has enough to tease fine leg into the fence

48.3

Shaheen Afridi to Shivam Mavi, FOUR, oh-ho. He's surprised himself. Impressed himself. Afridi misses the yorker by an inch short and Mavi sinks on a knee, carving his bat out to get it over point

48.2

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, a nudge, soft as ever in front of mid-wicket

48.1

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, quite the Kohli-like whip, those rubbery wrists as he takes it through mid-wicket. There's time for the second. Also takes Gill to the highest score by an Indian in this World Cup

47.6

Muhammad Musa to Shivam Mavi, no run, multiple slips. Mavi pulls into his pad, and for some strange reason wants the single. So he runs down, turns back half way down the pitch and loses his footing. But Musa too slips in collecting the ricochet and running him out

47.5

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, 146kph. But grants width for Gill to whack it to sweeper

47.4

Muhammad Musa to Shivam Mavi, 1 run, just a pushy defence, and Gill calls him across. That's the 250 for India

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, sliced down to long-off and there really should've been just the single. The throw's loopy, half way down the pitch

Shivam Mavi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

46.6

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, out Bowled!! This was always coming. No feet from Nagarkoti in dealing with the back of a length cramper as he tries running it down to third man, against the angle. Late on it, gets the inside edge and knocks out the leg-bail. Afridi pulling things back well here. K Nagarkoti b Shaheen Afridi 1(6)

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!

46.5

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, no run, awkward climb up from wide of the crease. He half plays, and pulls out

46.4

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, no run, 139kph, low full toss now. Doesn't allow Nagarkoti to get under and he's done with keeping the strike. Wants to get off and rushes down, only to be sent back. And Pakistan miss a direct hit, again

46.3

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, no run, nipping in on the body off a back of a length. Tapped out

46.2

Shaheen Afridi to K Nagarkoti, no run, through everything. Real damn quick low full toss, Nagarkoti looks away, obviously doesn't connect with the bat. But the off-stump wasn't far either

46.1

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, lines up to cut, realizes the pace isn't there and closes the bat face to direct it to third man

45.6

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, low full toss. For a change Gill goes rather softly. Oh he wants to keep the strike. Knocks it back down the pitch

Looks like the fielder at third man has dived on top of the ball and inured himself in the process. Nothing serious.

45.5

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, sharp bouncer, taking him by surprise, fending it one-handed to third man

45.4

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, FOUR, moves in the crease, turns the length into a half volley as he unleashes a full bat swing to drill it through extra cover

45.3

Muhammad Musa to K Nagarkoti, 1 run, jammed out in the form of his drive to cover

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, right handed bat, comes to the crease

45.2

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, out Caught by Rohail Nazir!! Pakistan appeal. Keep appealing. And Roy makes things easier by walking. Was the bouncer, climbing up over the right shoulder. Roy tries hooking, very awkwardly, but can only manage a feather on his glove en route the keeper. Was never going to be in control of this one. Anukul Roy c Rohail Nazir b Muhammad Musa 33(45) [4s-4]

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

45.1

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, reaches out to a yorker wide outside off, under-edging it to short third man

Muhammad Musa [7.0-0-42-1] is back into the attack

44.6

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, punched away towards mid-off

44.5

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, FOUR, takes him on. Afridi tries threatening him with one half way down the pitch but Gill is quick to pounce on. Stays tall, on the front foot and with room to swat his bat, pulls it through mid-wicket

44.4

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, 1 run, wristed away, dragging it from well outside off to get it to square leg

44.3

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, no run, gets the tickle on the slower one. And that means it doesn't carry. Roy was trying to run in down and ends up getting cramped for room

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, 1 run, turns it into a full toss with his gallop, swings it back past Hasan

42.6

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, 1 run, 139kph, airborne in riding the bounce and dabbing it behind point

42.5

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, 126kph, checked push to mid-off, who once again is very deep

42.4

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, 1 run, ungainly heave across the line. All he gets is an inside half on it down to fine leg

42.4

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, wide, anticipates a dance down and digs it in half way down the pitch. Too much so

42.3

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, skids on off a back of a length. A hurried up pull, without much of timing to mid-wicket. And a direct hit would've meant curtains, thanks to this over-ambitious single

42.2

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, 1 run, right on the bounce, staying up tall and beside the line to run it down to third man

42.1

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, high on the bat to the right of cover

41.6

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, fires in the dart, under the bat and an inch from the stump, another quiet over stolen

41.5

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, tries making room and smashes the full toss back

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, 1 run, floated up with the drift into leg. Whipped to long-on

41.1

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, 1 run, whipped off his feet, behind square

Hasan Khan [8.0-0-38-0] is back into the attack

40.6

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, 1 run, full toss, much quicker that Roy had anticipated. A mistimed knock to mid-on

40.5

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, FOUR, the other direction now. Some angle back in and Roy lifts the flick over the mid-wicket infield. You strengthen the off-side after his cover drive and he does this

40.5

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, wide, one too many. Another bouncer, but this time over Roy's head

40.4

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, no run, goes bumper. Roy turns sitter

40.3

Shaheen Afridi to Anukul Roy, FOUR, not quite off the middle. But there's enough on this kitchen sink thrown at the full-wide combo to take it over the infield and with enough legs to take it into the boundary

40.2

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, 1 run, 136kph, angling across on a good length. Chopped in front of point

40.1

Shaheen Afridi to Shubman Gill, no run, 134kph, gets the front foot to the pitch of the ball, driving through the line to mid-off

Shaheen Afridi [5.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack

39.6

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, no run, tries giving him the charge. Musa follows it with the bouncer and then the stare. Roy smartly evades with a duck down

39.5

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, no run, 141kph, now the bouncer. Too high to get Roy in any sort of trouble though

39.4

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, no run, 129kph, waits for the ball to get close, opening the bat face in the push to off

39.3

Muhammad Musa to Anukul Roy, FOUR, ample width. Roy goes after, with hard hands, slicing it through the covers. All bottom hand out there

39.2

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 1 run, spots the off-cutter and whips it through mid-wicket

39.1

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, 140kph. Pitches it up on the stumps, defended back, into the pitch and makes Musa dive to collect

39.1

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, wide, 136kph on it but all of it down leg

Muhammad Musa [6.0-0-36-1] is back into the attack

38.6

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, pushes it through quickly. Roy covers the line to block

38.5

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, 1 run, stays low, swishing his wrists hard to slap it down to sweeper

38.4

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, 1 run, on the downward dance, with a drive, square

38.3

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, 1 run, opens up his defence, very late

38.2

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, no run, closes the bat in a knock to mid-on

38.1

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, no run, quick, but there's drift on it to get it to dip on the base of middle. Squeezed out

37.6

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, 2 runs, it's more of a toe-end, but one off these massive bats. Drilled straight down, and Iqbal does well to get a palm. Can't prevent the ricochet though from another couple

37.5

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, no run, 135kph, closer to off. Tapped back

37.4

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, no run, slower one. 116kph. Some version of the knuckle ball. Roy spots, waits and defends

37.3

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, on the move across the stumps to heave it to deep mid-wicket

37.2

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, FOUR, all the cheek. Short, wide and Gill swipes his bat horizontally, bat facing upwards and toys around with the bowling..sending it through the cordon

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, no run, 134kph, pitched up as it veers in on off. Dug out

35.1

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, there's the fifty. Off a careful knock back past the bowler. It's been all class. It's his fourth fifty in the tourney..and he's yet to be dismissed for under that just as yet

34.6

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, he's mixing it nicely here. Follows the dart with a float up outside off. Smothered down

34.5

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, fired in. 90kph. Cramped out in the end

34.4

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, spinning into the pads, Roy tucks again, square leg cleans up again

34.3

Hasan Khan to Anukul Roy, no run, 76kph, turning in sharply to tuck Roy up. And he further tucks it to square leg

34.2

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, 1 run, drifting in on middle with the drift. Gill gets his front leg out to drill it to long-off

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, good soft wrists, drops them to place his nurdle in front of short mid-wicket and sneak a quick one

33.5

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, 1 run, 137kph, short again. Fended away

33.4

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, 140kph, takes the shorter one off his shoulders in flat-batting it to deep square leg

33.3

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, 1 run, a touch too straight, and a full toss to add to it. Roy not getting flashy, glances it calmly behind square

33.2

Arshad Iqbal to Anukul Roy, no run, 136kph, walks into the line with a couple of steps down the track and straight bats it to mid-off

Anukul Sudhakar Roy, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Drinks! This is a serious spell Arshad is in.

33.1

Arshad Iqbal to Abhishek Sharma, out Caught by Rohail Nazir!! This spell continues to get better with each over for Arshad Iqbal. Abhishek Sharma is caught down the leg-side. Three wickets in three overs for Iqbal. A fuller length ball drifting down leg and Abhishek gets a feather on his attempted flick. Rohail Nazir, the man with the gloves, moves to his right and pockets it with ease. Abhishek Sharma c Rohail Nazir b Arshad Iqbal 5(9)

Arshad Iqbal to Abhishek Sharma, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

32.6

Mohammad Taha to Abhishek Sharma, 1 run, driven hard to extra cover, who fumbles and that allows the batsmen to collect a run. 9 runs came off the over

32.5

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, 1 run, follows up with a push-drive down to long-off

32.4

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, FOUR, a half-whip, a half-sweep from Gill against this full ball down the leg-side. Hit hard and placed it fine of the man at 45. Runs away into the fence in a flash

32.3

Mohammad Taha to Abhishek Sharma, 1 run, loopy full toss, Abhishek Sharma comes on the front foot and works it to long-on

32.2

Mohammad Taha to Abhishek Sharma, no run, gets behind the line of the ball and pushes it back to the bowler

Arshad Iqbal to Abhishek Sharma, no run, the Pakistanis are vocal now as Abhishek Sharma ducks under a 137kph bouncer

31.2

Arshad Iqbal to Abhishek Sharma, no run, pitched up delivery outside off, Abhishek Sharma drives it straight to the man at mid-off

Abhishek Sharma, left handed bat, comes to the crease

31.1

Arshad Iqbal to Riyan Parag, out Caught by Rohail Nazir!! Edged and gone! Two wickets within a span of six deliveries for Arshad Iqbal. A good length delivery wide outside off, Riyan Parag drives away from the body and outside-edges it to the keeper. Riyan Parag c Rohail Nazir b Arshad Iqbal 2(5)

Arshad Iqbal to Riyan Parag, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

30.6

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, no run, punches a short of length delivery straight to extra cover

30.5

Mohammad Taha to Riyan Parag, 1 run, nurdled towards short fine leg

30.4

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, 1 run, a push down to long-on

30.3

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, wristed wide of short mid-wicket. Long-on mops it up

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, good looking shot for just a single. Nicely driven on the up, but the mid-off makes a good stop diving to his left. Saved a certain boundary there

29.5

Arshad Iqbal to Riyan Parag, 1 run, Riyan Parag is underway with a single. Rides the bounce to direct a short ball to the left of backward point

29.4

Arshad Iqbal to Riyan Parag, no run, short ball wide of off, Riyan Parag lets it be

29.3

Arshad Iqbal to Riyan Parag, no run, good length ball angling in at 134kph, Riyan Parag bunts it to the left of the bowler

Riyan Parag, right handed bat, comes to the crease

29.2

Arshad Iqbal to Harvik Desai, out Caught by Saad Khan!! The change in bowling has worked. Not a wicket-taking delivery, but Pakistan won't mind. It was short and wide outside off asking to be put away. Desai stood tall to play the cut shot. Play it in the air, but doesn't get the required elevation to clear backward point. A straightforward catch for Saad Khan. The partnership has been broken and another Indian batsman perishes after a start. Harvik Desai c Saad Khan b Arshad Iqbal 20(34) [4s-1]

Arshad Iqbal to Harvik Desai, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

29.1

Arshad Iqbal to Shubman Gill, 1 run, brings the vertical bat at the right time and strokes an in-angler between mid-off and extra cover

Arshad Iqbal [5.0-0-32-0] is back into the attack

28.6

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, flat, full and on leg, Desai moves leg-side and stonewalls it back at the bowler

28.5

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, quick away-turner, Desai pokes it on the off-side

Ali Zaryab to Harvik Desai, no run, solidly defends a tossed up offie on the off-side

25.5

Ali Zaryab to Harvik Desai, no run, bunted on the leg-side

25.4

Ali Zaryab to Harvik Desai, no run, a defensive push to cover

25.3

Ali Zaryab to Shubman Gill, 1 run, a couple of small steps down the track to dink it to long-on

25.2

Ali Zaryab to Shubman Gill, no run, blunts this quicker delivery on the leg-side

25.1

Ali Zaryab to Shubman Gill, FOUR, now it's Gill turn. Jogs down the track, gets to the pitch and whips it through mid-wicket. Bottom hand power. In the gap and there's no one stop that

24.6

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, FOUR, one bounce and into the fence. Desai releases the pressure with a powerful sweep shot. Fetched this flat ball from outside off and broomed it over mid-wicket after getting down on one knee

24.5

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, almost an action replay of the previous ball

24.4

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, drives a full ball to the right of the bowler, who moves across to cut it off

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, walks across, bends across and flicks a fuller ball on leg through mid-wicket for another brace

21.3

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, in the air and wide of the mid-wicket fielder. Goes back to uppishly pull a short ball to deep mid-wicket. Good running results in a couple

21.2

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, short ball, Gill gets on top of it and taps it into the off-side

21.1

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, FOUR, beautiful shot! Easily done. A goodish length ball on middle and leg, Gill goes back and across, stands tall and works it wide of the mid-on fielder. Runs away into the fence in a jiffy

20.6

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, loopy delivery, Desai is half-forward to mistime the drive back to Mohammad Taha

20.5

Mohammad Taha to Harvik Desai, no run, turning away from a length, poked towards point

20.4

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, 1 run, the length is shortened and Gill is quick to trek back and smash it down to long-on

20.3

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, no run, blocked off the front foot

20.2

Mohammad Taha to Shubman Gill, no run, 'catch it' is the cry as Gill gets a soft leading edge as he tries to whip an in-angler through the on-side. Falls short of the short cover fielder

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, FOUR, smashes this short ball away, but wasn't far away from the mid-wicket fielder. The short ball sits nicely for Shubman Gill, who stands tall and pummels the pull through mid-wicket. Gets off the mark with a boundary. Just stood there and admired his shot

19.5

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, pats a back of a length delivery to mid-on

19.4

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, full ball on leg-stump line, clipped straight to mid-wicket

19.3

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, jabs this length ball to mid-wicket

19.2

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, was that a chance? No. Harvik Desai dove and was safe. Gill middles the drive and the ball goes over the bowler's head. Mid-off cuts it off and has a shy at the bowler's end

19.1

Muhammad Musa to Shubman Gill, no run, 140kph back of a length delivery on middle, blocked solidly

18.6

Hasan Khan to Harvik Desai, no run, in-darter on middle, Desai drives hard and mistimes it back to the bowler

18.5

Hasan Khan to Harvik Desai, no run, pushed to the left of the bowler

18.4

Hasan Khan to Harvik Desai, no run, slows up his pace does Hasan Khan by tossing one up outside off, Desai comes forward and blocks

18.3

Hasan Khan to Harvik Desai, 2 runs, Hasan Khan serves width outside off and Desai slashes it behind point for a brace

18.2

Hasan Khan to Shubman Gill, 1 run, 100 up for India as Gill forces a fuller ball through the covers

18.1

Hasan Khan to Harvik Desai, 1 run, tossed up delivery on middle and leg, Desai on-drives it to long-on

17.6

Muhammad Musa to Harvik Desai, 1 run, an uppish flick against leg-stump half-volley that goes to deep backward square leg on the bounce

17.5

Muhammad Musa to Harvik Desai, no run, shortened length, cross-batted back to the bowler

17.5

Muhammad Musa to Harvik Desai, wide, pitches it up and slides it down the leg-side, Desai misses the flick and the ball settles into the mitts of the keeper

17.4

Muhammad Musa to Harvik Desai, 2 runs, looks to drive on the up, gets an outside edge and the ball runs down to third man. Desai decides to come back for the second and makes his ground easily

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, out Caught by Rohail Nazir!! This is brilliant bowling from Muhammad Musa. He is pumped up and rightly so. Both the openers are now back in the hut. The previous short ball must have been in Kalra's mind. No feet movement on this occasion from the left-handed batsman. The ball jagged in from a length and Kalra dangles his bat out to push it through the off-side. The inside edge is found and the keeper pouches it. Almost knoced off the stumps on its way to Rohail Nazir. Manjot Kalra c Rohail Nazir b Muhammad Musa 47(59) [4s-7]

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

17.1

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, no run, that's a sharp bouncer! 144kph! Zipped out of the surface and Kalra gets into a tangle. He is hopping to fend and is cramped for room as well. Goes over the head of the bowler

16.6

Hasan Khan to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, use of the feet from Kalra to get to the pitch of this flighted delivery. Follows that by smashing the drive down to long-on

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, out Prithvi Shaw Run Out!! Trouble. Shaw's wild running finally has him going back. Also Pakistan get a throw to hit the stumps. In fact, Musa doesn't trust his aim, he instead runs and takes down the stumps after collecting it mid-pitch. Another drop on the pitch, and the Indians decide to chance the recent sloppy fielding. Run..and despite the dive, Shaw's sliding bat pops up and is in the air despite being over the crease. What a waste. Prithvi Shaw run out (Muhammad Musa) 41(42) [4s-3 6s-1]

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, THAT'S OUT!! Run Out!!

15.2

Muhammad Musa to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, rides the bounce to show the full bat face in the punch to sweeper

15.1

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, 3 runs, drills it straight down. Oh this is a belter, when you can drive like this on the up. The throw from the deep comes over the stumps - the batsmen have settled for the two - but nobody bothers collecting. And had the fielder who eventually collects has a shy

Muhammad Musa [2.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack

14.6

Arshad Iqbal to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, through the covers with a flowing drive

14.5

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, more of the same. A touch softer on this occasion as he wrists it to third man

Hasan Khan to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, quite a slog, more off the inside half of the bat to long-on

10.1

Hasan Khan to Manjot Kalra, no run, back, across in punching the defence back down the pitch

9.6

Shaheen Afridi to Prithvi Shaw, no run, lovely change up. Goes slower, Shaw can't spot and is through with his drive, and only then does the ball pass by

9.5

Shaheen Afridi to Prithvi Shaw, no run, opens up his tall defence, finds short third man

9.4

Shaheen Afridi to Prithvi Shaw, no run, beside the line in a safe defence

9.3

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, another chance goes begging. This time it's a run-out. Shaw pulls him across for a quick steal after he steers it straight into the hands of point. Alas, the throw isn't breaking down the stumps. Shaw wasn't even in the frame

9.2

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, no run, running appeal. Sharp in-seam as it comes in with the angle off that perfect length. Kalra stays stuck, but the inside edge onto his pad comes to his rescue

9.1

Shaheen Afridi to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, on the hop to dab it to third man

8.6

Hasan Khan to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, stays back with some late wrists in turning it in front of square

8.5

Hasan Khan to Prithvi Shaw, no run, straightening in on the pads, tickled to mid-wicket

8.4

Hasan Khan to Prithvi Shaw, no run, behind the line with a full faced block

Hasan Khan to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, another chance down. Off another healthy edge, it's Kalra again..and it's Zaid again. Everything right from Hasan, enticing the expansive drive, drifts away to take the edge and slip, once again is late to react to his right

8.1

Hasan Khan to Manjot Kalra, no run, shuffles, stands in front of his stumps and defends

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, FOUR, gets the cut right. There's no shortage of width out here. Kalra's on his toes, showing the full bat face in a lofted cut over point

7.4

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, no run, nice crunch, but straight to cover

7.3

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, no run, on middle, off a good length, turned away to leg

7.2

Shaheen Afridi to Manjot Kalra, no run, in, out. Catches really don't get simpler. Kalra gets a fat outside edge as he looks to run it down..off the splice and right to where the fly slip is. Just that his palms can't come down in time to hold on

7.1

Shaheen Afridi to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, trouble. No, not when there's no direct hit. Shaw tries being cheeky, overtly so as he drops it to short mid-wicket again and runs through. He was never going to be in, but the throw's somewhere else from Afridi running across

Arshad Iqbal to Manjot Kalra, FOUR, just the perfect sitter. And Kalra doesn't need to move his feet in dealing with this. Gets on his back leg and swats, powerfully in muscling it through mid-wicket. Doesn't even bother keeping it down

2.5

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, 1 run, soft late hands for another dab, third man

2.4

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, no run, 131kph, length, off-lined. All bat face as he presses forward in transferring his body weight as he defends

2.3

Arshad Iqbal to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, off the tummy in a ramp behind a diving point

2.2

Arshad Iqbal to Manjot Kalra, no run, top length. Draws Kalra into the drive, only for the ball to shape back in and cut his inside half on the away-from-the-body drive

2.1

Arshad Iqbal to Manjot Kalra, no run, lets the ball get close, in a push-drive to cover

1.6

Muhammad Musa to Prithvi Shaw, no run, long stride, leaning to the pitch of the ball in a squeezy-drive to cover

1.5

Muhammad Musa to Prithvi Shaw, no run, a touch fuller as it nips back in on middle. High elbows in the bunt out

1.4

Muhammad Musa to Prithvi Shaw, FOUR, that's worth those1.2 crores. Spots the width outside off, gets airy in his jump and throws his bat out in an airy cut over point

1.3

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, 1 run, stays beisde the line, waiting, to open up his bat face and run it through point

1.2

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, no run, can't quite get his tuck right off his legs, finds his thigh

1.1

Muhammad Musa to Manjot Kalra, no run, teases him in that channel just outside off as it angles away. Kalra covers off in watching it through

Muhammad Musa, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

0.6

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, 2 runs, follows it with a wide sucker. Carved out to a squarish third man. And some quick feet to get back

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, no run, full as it veers into the base of off. Dug back

0.3

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, no run, cutting back in to cramp him up. Quite flat footed in a keep out

0.2

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, no run, a hint of late shape outside off, forward press in the cover punch

0.1

Arshad Iqbal to Prithvi Shaw, no run, typically back of a length for his height, around off. Shaw goes tall on his toes in a straight batted bunt down

Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra are at the crease. Prithvi Shaw is on strike. Arshad Iqbal will open the attack

We're just about set. But first the national anthems. It's an as un-India-Pak atmostphere as you're likely to get at a game of cricket. Vast grass banks with nobody really out there. Right then..huddle done. Stretching done. Guard-marking done. Let's play. Just the one wide slip..

"It's the same pitch as yesterday and it looks in much better condition. It was damp, but now it looks dry. A bit of tennis ball bounce, which might be steeper and quicker when compared to the last game and it comes as no surprise that India have looked to bat first out here. The spinners should come into play and although Shaheen Afridi vs Prithvi Shaw would be the contest, it is likely that the faster bowlers might not get a lot of help," goes Rob Key in his pitch report.

Hasan Khan-- skipper, Pakistan: "We would have batted first as well but I do not think it matters. Just the one change for us, Imran comes in. It is the first time we are playing against India at this level and the boys are all pumped up."

Prithvi Shaw -- skipper, India: We're going to bat first. It looks like a good wicket and the weather seems good too. We're going in with the same side. We are playing Pakistan for the first time in this tournament and we are looking forward to it.

For this entire generation, perhaps the only India-Pakistan cricket they've seen is the one in World Cups like these. And it's just as likely that that's all they'd see. So then here we are then, at the Hagley, with is all bright and sunny in the hope of a contest that lives up. Stay on, the toss and teams coming up in just a bit..but before that we've been told it is going to be the same pitch that was used yesterday. Bat first i.e.?

So assuming the Indians are done figuring out the number of zeroes and investing their multi-crore IPL deals, they wouldn't mind getting back into the steamroll mode they've been on all tour. In the times when everything seemed to go right, the eternal pessimist its fan is felt their middle order wasn't really tested. But that too was put right against Bangladesh in the quarters. Pakistan meanwhile have been all pattern - bowl first, dismantle batsmen, dismantle their egos and chase, rather dodgily.

10.05 local time: Blame the auction. Blame the curator in Johannesburg. Blame Pakistan for becoming the number one T20I side. No, don't blame, thank instead the abundance of news and the lack of printing space that allows cricket to remain cricket. Must be tough to wrap your head around it, but this is an Indo-Pak contest. And that too in the semis being played at odd hours. But we're there up and early to sprinkle water on your face. Get up. Hello. Go ahead, paint your faces, repeat the catchphrase, chant your slogans.